Ellie (Hock) Richter
Class Of 2004,
Alumni Spotlight: Ellie (Hock) Richter ‘04 — How one CIS graduate is redefining speech therapy on her own terms
For many people, working from home is a recent shift. For Ellie Richter, it’s a lifestyle and a mission. As a bilingual virtual speech-language pathologist, she has carved out a unique path—combining her passion for language, her commitment to helping others, and her desire to build a life centered around both family and purpose.
Now based in St. Charles, Missouri, she works remotely with school districts across Missouri, Illinois, and Minnesota, providing speech therapy in both Spanish and English. She also consults with private practices and supports other SLPs (Speech-Language Pathologists) who are transitioning into virtual therapy—making her both a clinician and a coach.
“I almost always knew I wanted to be a bilingual speech-language pathologist,” she says. “I’ve always loved learning about and celebrating languages and cultures.”
Her early exposure to Spanish came from growing up alongside her younger brother, who was adopted from Guatemala. That love for language blossomed further during her years at Columbia Independent School (CIS), where she completed an internship at Centro Latino and later went on to study Spanish and Communication Sciences and Disorders at Saint Louis University for both undergraduate and graduate school.
After working in-person with nonprofits across Texas and Missouri, she shifted to virtual work in 2020—a decision born of necessity during the pandemic that turned into an unexpected passion. By 2022, she launched her own business. A year later, she was working fully remote.
But behind the professional pivot was something even more personal: family. From stepping away from work to care for her mother in hospice, to navigating life with a newborn in the NICU, she needed flexibility—and she built her career around that need.
“Those life experiences, combined with necessity, pushed me to work for myself and shaped the way I built my business.”
Today, her daily routine is a thoughtful balance between her clients and her kids. During the school year, she starts her mornings with a school bus stop drop-off, then spends her day in virtual sessions, IEP meetings, and administrative work before shifting back into full-time parenting mode. Summers are a little different—filled with blogging, podcast interviews, consulting work, and conference presentations, often squeezed in during nap time.
Through it all, she credits CIS with giving her the tools—and the mindset—to think creatively and act with confidence.
“CIS gave me the freedom to explore my interests and follow my curiosity. The teachers were incredibly supportive and open to student ideas, creating a culture of dreaming big and thinking creatively.”
She even has a full-circle moment tied to her time at CIS: a high school trip to Rome with the Latin Club. “As luck would have it,” she adds, “I ended up getting married in Rome twelve years later!”
For current students and recent grads, her advice is both wise and approachable:
“Say yes to all types of opportunities, especially the ones that feel small or a little out of your comfort zone. Every experience teaches you something.”
And perhaps most importantly:
“Don’t underestimate the power of relationships. Connect with people, ask questions, and stay curious.”
From Rome to remote therapy, and from student to entrepreneur, her story is a testament to what’s possible when passion, adaptability, and heart guide your journey.